An all-time record was set for Shabbat Hebron this year as between
45,000-50,000 people attended the world’s largest Shabbat experience. Every year,
corresponding to the Torah portion of Chayei Sarah, tens of thousands visit the city
where the events recorded in the Bible took place. The chapter in Genesis
in which Abraham purchases the Cave of Machpela for his beloved wife was read on
location.
People from Israel and around the world camped out in tents and trailers, slept in
schools or enjoyed home hospitality in a festive picnic atmosphere that resembles
Lag BaOmer in Meron and other large-scale Jewish festivals. The Egged national bus
company arranged special bus lines from Jerusalem for the extra
traffic.
45,000-50,000 people attended the world’s largest Shabbat experience. Every year,
corresponding to the Torah portion of Chayei Sarah, tens of thousands visit the city
where the events recorded in the Bible took place. The chapter in Genesis
in which Abraham purchases the Cave of Machpela for his beloved wife was read on
location.
People from Israel and around the world camped out in tents and trailers, slept in
schools or enjoyed home hospitality in a festive picnic atmosphere that resembles
Lag BaOmer in Meron and other large-scale Jewish festivals. The Egged national bus
company arranged special bus lines from Jerusalem for the extra
traffic.
The Hebron Fund, which is the local sponsor of the Jewish community, once
again arranged a special VIP tour with catered meals. Hebron Fund participants
included tourist from America and other countries, new immigrants, and long-time
residents. Guests lecturers attended the Hebron Fund dinner held at the
Gutnick Center next to the Tomb of the Matriarchs and Patriarchs. They included reserved
IDF general Uzi Dayan, who expressed pride in the Jewish community for establishing
a normalized civilian presence in what was once off-limits to Jewish visitors
during the Jordanian period.
A native-born Israeli, the son of native-born Israelis, he predicted a population
of 20,000 by the time of the country’s 100th anniversary in 2048 and marveled as how far
the nation has progressed in his lifetime.
Also speaking at the Hebron Fund dinner was Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan, who has served as a
government minister and Member of Knesset in various capacities for the past six
years. Ben-Dahan reminisced about when he served as an assistant to Chief Rabbi
Mordechai Eliyahu and described the venerable sage’s first visit to the Tomb of the
Patriarchs following its liberation in the Six Day War of 1967. He recalled Rabbi
Eliyahu stating that it was less like a tourist visiting a sacred holy site and more
like a homecoming as a child returning to his parent’s house after a long time
away.
Colonel Itamar Ben Chaim, commander of the Judea Brigade also spoke about the commitment
to protect the city and surrounding areas and his honor to serve in this
capacity.
Among the other government representatives that joined the masses were Minister of
Education Rafi Peretz, Minister of Environmental Affairs Ze’ev Elkin, Minister of
Transportation Bezalel Smotrich, Minister for Social Equality Gila Gamliel, MK Michael
Malchieli, MK Michal Shir Segman, MK Mordechai Yogev, director general of the
Ministry of Religious Affairs Oded Plus, former MK Orit Struk, and mayor of Hebron
Hillel Horowitz.
Other guest speakers included David M. Weinberg, vice president of the Jerusalem
Institute for Strategy and Security and Rabbi Eitan Shnerb, the head of an
educational institution in Lod who was injured in a terrorist attack that claimed
the life of his 17-year-old daughter in August.
The event ended with a Saturday night barbecue in which Israel Defense Force
soldiers and Hebron Fund tour participants joined together for food and
dancing.
The Hall of Isaac and Rebecca was open to the public, location of the memorial monuments
of the Biblical Patriarchs Isaac and Rebecca and location of the sealed-up entrance
to the actual underground burial chambers.
A special magazine insert from HaMizrachi was prepared which included articles by Rabbi
Herschel Schacter, who explained that Sarah’s funeral at the Cave of Machpela was
the first Jewish burial in history. Other influential educators who contributed to
the special Chayei Sarah publication included Rabbi Berel Wein, Rabbi Zev Leff, Sivan
Rahav Meir, and other influential public figures. Articles about Hebron by historic
figures such as David Ben-Gurion were published as well. HaMizrachi is a publication of
the World Mizrachi Movement, which was founded in 1902 and linked to the Bnei Akiva
youth movement. For the full issue click here:
https://view.flipdocs.com/?ID=10004239_798843
OU Torah Tidbits released a special issue for the event as well.
Others who worked tirelessly for the event were Rabbi Daniel Rosenstein, executive
director of the Hebron Fund, Uri Karzen, director of the Jewish community of
Hebron, Yishai Fleisher, international spokesperson for the Jewish community of Hebron,
Yoni Bliechbard, chief security officer of Hebron, Noam Arnon, Hebrew-language
spokesman for the Jewish community of Hebron, local community coordinator Elimelech
Karzen, events coordinator Ashi Horowitz, Rabbi Simcha Hochbaum who led a tour of
the city, and tourism coordinator Sarah Edri who led a tour of the Tomb of Machpela
complex and explained the cultural and historical significance of the
architecture.
again arranged a special VIP tour with catered meals. Hebron Fund participants
included tourist from America and other countries, new immigrants, and long-time
residents. Guests lecturers attended the Hebron Fund dinner held at the
Gutnick Center next to the Tomb of the Matriarchs and Patriarchs. They included reserved
IDF general Uzi Dayan, who expressed pride in the Jewish community for establishing
a normalized civilian presence in what was once off-limits to Jewish visitors
during the Jordanian period.
A native-born Israeli, the son of native-born Israelis, he predicted a population
of 20,000 by the time of the country’s 100th anniversary in 2048 and marveled as how far
the nation has progressed in his lifetime.
Also speaking at the Hebron Fund dinner was Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan, who has served as a
government minister and Member of Knesset in various capacities for the past six
years. Ben-Dahan reminisced about when he served as an assistant to Chief Rabbi
Mordechai Eliyahu and described the venerable sage’s first visit to the Tomb of the
Patriarchs following its liberation in the Six Day War of 1967. He recalled Rabbi
Eliyahu stating that it was less like a tourist visiting a sacred holy site and more
like a homecoming as a child returning to his parent’s house after a long time
away.
Colonel Itamar Ben Chaim, commander of the Judea Brigade also spoke about the commitment
to protect the city and surrounding areas and his honor to serve in this
capacity.
Among the other government representatives that joined the masses were Minister of
Education Rafi Peretz, Minister of Environmental Affairs Ze’ev Elkin, Minister of
Transportation Bezalel Smotrich, Minister for Social Equality Gila Gamliel, MK Michael
Malchieli, MK Michal Shir Segman, MK Mordechai Yogev, director general of the
Ministry of Religious Affairs Oded Plus, former MK Orit Struk, and mayor of Hebron
Hillel Horowitz.
Other guest speakers included David M. Weinberg, vice president of the Jerusalem
Institute for Strategy and Security and Rabbi Eitan Shnerb, the head of an
educational institution in Lod who was injured in a terrorist attack that claimed
the life of his 17-year-old daughter in August.
The event ended with a Saturday night barbecue in which Israel Defense Force
soldiers and Hebron Fund tour participants joined together for food and
dancing.
The Hall of Isaac and Rebecca was open to the public, location of the memorial monuments
of the Biblical Patriarchs Isaac and Rebecca and location of the sealed-up entrance
to the actual underground burial chambers.
A special magazine insert from HaMizrachi was prepared which included articles by Rabbi
Herschel Schacter, who explained that Sarah’s funeral at the Cave of Machpela was
the first Jewish burial in history. Other influential educators who contributed to
the special Chayei Sarah publication included Rabbi Berel Wein, Rabbi Zev Leff, Sivan
Rahav Meir, and other influential public figures. Articles about Hebron by historic
figures such as David Ben-Gurion were published as well. HaMizrachi is a publication of
the World Mizrachi Movement, which was founded in 1902 and linked to the Bnei Akiva
youth movement. For the full issue click here:
https://view.flipdocs.com/?ID=10004239_798843
OU Torah Tidbits released a special issue for the event as well.
Others who worked tirelessly for the event were Rabbi Daniel Rosenstein, executive
director of the Hebron Fund, Uri Karzen, director of the Jewish community of
Hebron, Yishai Fleisher, international spokesperson for the Jewish community of Hebron,
Yoni Bliechbard, chief security officer of Hebron, Noam Arnon, Hebrew-language
spokesman for the Jewish community of Hebron, local community coordinator Elimelech
Karzen, events coordinator Ashi Horowitz, Rabbi Simcha Hochbaum who led a tour of
the city, and tourism coordinator Sarah Edri who led a tour of the Tomb of Machpela
complex and explained the cultural and historical significance of the
architecture.
NEWS COVERAGE:
HEBRON CONTACT INFORMATION
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hebronfund
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hebronfund
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishcommunityofhebron/
Israeli contact info:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hebron.machpela
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hebronvideo
Israeli contact info:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hebron.machpela
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hebronvideo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebron_machpela/
For past articles see
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